Cigarette extinguisher



Nov. 27, 1956 E. D. MILLER ET AL 2,771,886

CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Filed April 9, 1954 comm 1 MILLER a. LAURENCE DRISCQLL INVENTOR.

United States Patent CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Edward D. Miller and Jesse Laurence Driscoll, Bellevue, Wash.

Application April 9, 1954, Serial No. 422,071

3 Claims. (Cl. 131-256) This invention relates to a cigarette extinguisher.

Among the more important objects of this invention have been the provision of a novel and improved extinguisher for cigarettes and the like which is capable of being manufactured with simple tools, by inexpensive methods, and of relatively inexpensive materials to the end that manufacture and production is economically feasible and its cost will fall within the range generally pertinent to give-away types of merchandise; the provision of an extinguisher element that is adaptable for use under a variety of conditions and which may be readily supported in a position to receive a burning cigarette or the like Without requiring that it be permanently attached to a supporting element; the provision of a safe extinguisher which will receive various sizes of cigarettes or the like and extinguish them and from which the same may not be easily dislodged by accident due to a relatively tight engagement obtained between the extinguisher and the article being extinguished; the provision of a device which will rapidly extinguish the burning smoking article without creating smoke or causing sparks or ashes to be carelessly spread around; and the provision of a device in which a cigarette can be extinguished, but from which it can be removed and relighted and smoked without material loss of flavor or satisfaction to the smoker.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a first form of an extinguishing device embodying the principles of our invention;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the device of Figure 1 with a match book, which may be used therewith, broken away for convenience of illustration;

Figure 3 is an end view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a modified or second form of extinguishing device embodying the principles of our invention; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 4.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that an inverted frusto-conical extinguishing tube is formed by rolling sheet metal around a shaping mandrel so that a tube, open at both ends, is provided. The tube 10 is formed of a sheet of metal and has a short vertical edge 12 and a longer vertical edge portion 14 that has integral therewith a flange or tab 16 which is arranged generally tangential to the comically-shaped tube. The upper and lower edges of the flange 16 are parallel to each other and each is provided with a lip 18 formed by bending an edge portion of the metal into juxtaposed slightly spaced apart relation to the body 16. The lips 18 extend from ad jacent the tube 10 outward toward the end of the flange 16 and at their outer ends 20 are smoothly faired in a tapered manner for a purpose later to be described.

The edges of the lips 18 are spaced apart a distance that is slightly less than the width of the conventional match book cover 22 of the type shown in Figure 1.

2,771,886 Patented Nov. 27, 1956 Such match books are common articles of commerce and involve a front cover 24, a rear cover 26, the folded abrasive flap 28, and the match splint 30.

The cigarette extinguishing device and the match book 22 are joined together by inserting the match book with the butt ends of the match splint directed toward the inverted frusto-conical tube 10. The lips 18 receive and guide the back cover 26 of the match book. In this operation of inserting the match book, the faired ends 20 of the lips crimp or crease the match book at the point 31. This action slightly deforms the fold 27 between the match cover back 26 and the abrasive-faced retainer flap 28. In this way a secure joinder between the extinguishing device and the match book is obtained. The match book and extinguisher form a handy pocket piece for a smoker wherein he has readily available his matches and an extinguisher which will snuff his cigarette when used in the manner suggested in Figure 1.

To aid in the positioning of the snuffing device for use, it may be placed upon a table or counter surface in the manner shown in Figure 1, with the match book cover open so that the cover flap 24 of the match book extends generally at an angle to the rear cover 26 to act as a supporting or stabilizing leaf.

When a cigarette C is inserted into the mouth of tube 10 at the larger end thereof and is pressed downward, the hot coal is brought into contact with the metallic surfaces of the extinguishing device. Heat is absorbed by the metal to a degree that will extinguish the burning coal. A strange occurrence that is to be noted is that the ash and particles of the extinguished coal, which would normally be expected to fall through the tube, do not appear to do so. Rather they generally adhere to the end of the extinguished cigarette butt and move with it when the latter is withdrawn from the tube. In this respect there is little or no ash which falls through the tube or out the end when a cigarette is extinguished.

The device shown in Figures 4 and 5 is a slightly modified, alternative form of the invention which has been described. In this case the inverted frusto-conical hollow metal tube 40 has, integral therewith, an outstanding flange 42 which is shown as generally circular in shape and which comprises the means by which the cone may be positioned relative to a base member in the upright position. Such a base in this case could be a wall-like element and a typical example is the instrument panel of an automobile or a face of a cabinet.

On the back face of the supporting flange 42 we mount a double-faced web 44 of pressure-sensitive adhesive which adheres to the flange 42 and which, when the protective coating film 46 is withdrawn, has a second adhesive face. By means of the exposed adhesive film the flange 42 may be pressed against and attached to the upright supporting base. To facilitate the removal of the protective web, an uncoated non-adhesive flap 48, that may be grasped by the thumb and forefinger, extends from the edge of the protective coating film 46 to permit the user to grasp and pull oif the film.

The flange 42 of the device of Figures 4 and 5 is formed of relatively thin metal such as aluminum, or brass, or copper. It is desirable that in certain forms of the invention the metallic component be a soft, manually formable material so that when the flange 42 is pressed to a curved or slightly irregular surface it can be caused to conform sufliciently close to the contours of such surface that appropriate adhesion will be had to hold the cone firmly and in its upright position. The use of the device of Figures 4 and 5 to extinguish a cigarette is the same as that which has been above described.

Having thus disclosed the invention, we claim:

1. A device for extinguishing cigarettes and the like, comprising: an open-ended metallic tube formed of rolled sheet metal and having, integral therewith, an outstanding flange disposed generally tangential of said tube,

said flange including means for receiving a supporting element, and a match book removably received by said zflange :including a cover portion angularly disposed relative the side edges of said flange for positioning said tube in an upright position for the reception of the burning end of a cigarette or the like.

2. A device for extinguishing cigarettes and the like, comprising: an open-ended tube formed of rolled sheet "metalandhav-ing integral therewith an outstanding flange disposed generally tangentially of said tube, said flange :having a width substantially equivalent to the Width of ,a'cover element for a paper match-book and having side edges directed substantially perpendicular to the longituflinal 'axis of the tube and a pair of opposed lips along said edges said lips being spaced apart slightly less than the-width of said cover element to receive a match-book "slidably inserted between said lips with the butt end of the snatch book adjacent said tube and the back cover disposed against said flange, whereby the freed end of said match-book cover will serve to stabilize said flange on edge on a supporting surface with said metallic tube :disposed upright to receive cigarettes and the like for extinguishing.

3. A smokers extinguisher device adapted to hold a match book having a back cover, front flap, and abrasive flap in conventional arrangement, comprising: a single strip of rolled sheet metal having a bent portion at one end forming a tube, the tube being open at least at one end to form an extinguisher, the remainder of said strip forming a backing flange and ioining the tube portion at right'angles so that the tube lies at one end of a first face of said backing flange forming an abutment, said backing flange having its side edges return-bent providing a pair of opposed lips extending a short distance over the margins of said first face of said backing flange in spaced relation thereto forming a guidewaybetween the lips of a size to accept the back cover of such match book Which may be slidably inserted in said guideway With the butt end of the match book abutting said tube and with the front flap free to form a lateral support, said lips at their ends opposite said tube being beveled whereby such match book may be creased in the edges at the joinder of the back cover and abrasive flap as it is inserted in said guideway to hold the book in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,637,978 Anderson Aug. 2, 1927 1,976,189 Pauli Oct. 9, 1934 2,001,827 Thayer May 21, 1935 2,146,489 Thomas Feb. 7, 1939 2,164,795 vBerg July 4, 1939 2,323,342 McManus et a1. July 6, 1943 2,506,666 Graham May 9, 1950 2,627,971 Garber Feb. 10, 1953 2,628,712 Ford Feb. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,624 Great Britain 1915 536,123 Great Britain May 2, 1941 

